Fergus Ryan
@fergus.bsky.social
Wordcel, aspiring prompt engineer & China analyst.
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Reposted by Fergus Ryan
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
writ for the teen social media ban high court challenge is out: cdn.prod.website-fil...
November 27, 2025 at 6:01 AM
writ for the teen social media ban high court challenge is out: cdn.prod.website-fil...
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
I feel like the finance geniuses who think a token prediction machine is a couple steps away from consciousness haven’t really factored in “China makes the best models available for free” into their circular business plans but 🤷
MIT and Hugging Face study: the share of downloads of Chinese-made open AI models rose to 17% in the past year, surpassing US developers' 15.8% share, a first (Melissa Heikkilä/Financial Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
November 26, 2025 at 5:26 AM
I feel like the finance geniuses who think a token prediction machine is a couple steps away from consciousness haven’t really factored in “China makes the best models available for free” into their circular business plans but 🤷
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
While there are often some ethical issues with making free PDFs of paywalled content, in this case it seems entirely justifiable, given the author, the subject, and the journalistic imperative to provide the widest possible audience for the verb "Michael Wolffed"
gofile.io/d/Ap4v35
gofile.io/d/Ap4v35
November 26, 2025 at 11:06 PM
While there are often some ethical issues with making free PDFs of paywalled content, in this case it seems entirely justifiable, given the author, the subject, and the journalistic imperative to provide the widest possible audience for the verb "Michael Wolffed"
gofile.io/d/Ap4v35
gofile.io/d/Ap4v35
How to read Lizza without paying
November 26, 2025 at 11:57 PM
How to read Lizza without paying
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
A parliamentary inquiry considering the teen social media ban has recommended delaying its implementation, among other recommendations
November 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
A parliamentary inquiry considering the teen social media ban has recommended delaying its implementation, among other recommendations
‘Western politicians have failed to speak up about the slaughter of civilians in Sudan because the United Arab Emirates has bought and paid for their silence, according to a top Sudanese general.‘
The UAE is buying the West's silence over its 'race war' in Sudan, says top general | Middle East Eye
Yasser al-Atta, the Sudanese army's second-in-command, tells MEE that ceasefire talks should exclude Trump envoy Massad Boulos
www.middleeasteye.net
November 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
‘Western politicians have failed to speak up about the slaughter of civilians in Sudan because the United Arab Emirates has bought and paid for their silence, according to a top Sudanese general.‘
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
Australia's social media age ban is being challenged in the High Court on the grounds it restricts young teens' implied right to freedom of political communication.
Social media ban for under-16s challenged in High Court
Australia's social media age ban is being challenged in the High Court on the grounds it restricts young teens' implied right to freedom of political communication.
www.abc.net.au
November 26, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Australia's social media age ban is being challenged in the High Court on the grounds it restricts young teens' implied right to freedom of political communication.
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
"Report suggest[ed] Washington should urge Taiwan to show restraint and there may be room for negotiation over the South China Sea" www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
November 26, 2025 at 12:38 AM
"Report suggest[ed] Washington should urge Taiwan to show restraint and there may be room for negotiation over the South China Sea" www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
‘Fan, who now spends most of her time outside China‘
Where is Fan Bingbing based?
Where is Fan Bingbing based?
Chinese actress Fan Bingbing named best actress at Golden Horse Awards - Focus Taiwan
Chinese actress Fan Bingbing (范冰冰) has been named best actress at the 2025 Golden Horse Awards for her performance in the film "Mother Bhumi" (地母).
focustaiwan.tw
November 25, 2025 at 11:34 PM
‘Fan, who now spends most of her time outside China‘
Where is Fan Bingbing based?
Where is Fan Bingbing based?
November 25, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I just chipped in to help Cairo Takeaway fight a defamation case born of a tabloid hit job. They could use your support too.
Cairo Takeaway Legal Defence: Our Community, Our Values
Cairo Takeaway has been a cherished part of our community, serving delicious food and fostering connection in our neighbourhood. They've also been outspoken in their support for Palestinians. Now, they need our support.Why We're FundraisingThe owners of Cairo Takeaway are facing a defamation lawsuit. Legal defence costs are mounting, and like many small businesses—especially those who speak out for Palestinian rights—they're facing this challenge with limited resources.If, after a successful defence, legal costs are recovered from the individual who is suing Cairo Takeaway, contributions will be applied to defence costs and administrative costs only to the extent that these costs are not otherwise paid by that individual (as agreed or ordered by the court). Any surplus funds will be donated to Palestine Australia Relief and Action.If the defence is unsuccessful and legal costs are not recovered, and there are any surplus funds after paying for defence costs and administrative costs, all surplus funds will be donated to Palestine Australia Relief and Action.Our Community, Our ValuesCairo Takeaway has always been more than just a restaurant—it's a place where community happens, where solidarity with Palestine is openly expressed and where everyone, regardless of background, is welcome if they come in good faith to support justice. The owners have served us with warmth and dedication, and they've never been afraid to stand up for what's right.
chuffed.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I just chipped in to help Cairo Takeaway fight a defamation case born of a tabloid hit job. They could use your support too.
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
narrator: 50 years ago...
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
November 25, 2025 at 2:11 AM
narrator: 50 years ago...
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
me: [nods] in 1945
narrator: in 1975...
me: what
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
We have long known that people retain more from doing synthesis themselves than from a prepared summary. And yet, papers have abstracts, journals have review essays, and the web has Wikipedia. People decide for themselves—not always rightly!—when to consult the full text of original sources.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 5:09 PM
We have long known that people retain more from doing synthesis themselves than from a prepared summary. And yet, papers have abstracts, journals have review essays, and the web has Wikipedia. People decide for themselves—not always rightly!—when to consult the full text of original sources.
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
damn they brought back literal filibusters
Gavin and Tanner, planned and trained for nearly a year, legal documents say, in an elaborate attempt to invade a Haitian island, kill its Black men, enslave its Black women and Black children and fulfill their "rape fantasies."
www.fox4news.com/news/haitian...
www.fox4news.com/news/haitian...
NTX men planned to murder men, enslave women on foreign island: Indictment
Two North Texas men have been indicted for an alleged scheme to sail to a foreign island, murder all the men, and enslave the women and children.
www.fox4news.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
damn they brought back literal filibusters
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
The party that promised "free speech on campus" has made sure there can be no free speech on campuses.
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
November 21, 2025 at 4:25 AM
The party that promised "free speech on campus" has made sure there can be no free speech on campuses.
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
Pretty strong denial from Rudd.
Rudd calls in the lawyers over mention in Jeffrey Epstein emails
Kevin Rudd's name has appeared in a tranche of documents from the estate of notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
mol.im
November 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Pretty strong denial from Rudd.
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
Excellent quote from Mr Wolff to weirdo Brittany Higgins-stalker Charlotte Karp, although I would suggest it should be 'nitwit' as the closed compound word
November 18, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Excellent quote from Mr Wolff to weirdo Brittany Higgins-stalker Charlotte Karp, although I would suggest it should be 'nitwit' as the closed compound word
Reposted by Fergus Ryan
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.